Wherefore all the discipline with which Job was exercised? He could say in truth, “I know that my Redeemer liveth” (Job 19:25). As God’s witness there was none like him in all the earth. He walked in uprightness, humility, patience, and wisdom; a perfect and upright man, fearing God and eschewing evil. Why then his afflictions and humiliations, before unheard-of among the saints? There was the flesh in Job; and the sifting discipline went on, until Job had learnt so to know both God and himself as to abhor himself, and justify God.
I seek to keep short accounts with God: this saves not only much trouble and time, but also much sharp discipline.
“A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.” (Prov. 17:10.)
It is indeed rare, when judgments come upon men, that those judgments yield their due profit. Those who walk with a tender spirit before God profit more by a word or gentle rebuke of His love, that none but themselves know of, than do others, who are careless walkers, by heavy judgments. If, however, great afflictions come, the heart being prepared, the end will be the double blessing. (Job 42)
The cry of “Abba, Father!” in the time of trouble, is often a sign of quick deliverance. When we kiss the hand that smites, the rod drops. Is it not to resist the will of God when we flee from those trials which He sends to prove our faith?
As children we may ask for understanding of our Father’s will; but it belongs not to us to think for Him.
We may be sorrowful, yet not unhappy. Unhappiness is caused by self-will, that frets against the Lord’s way of dealing with us. But we may have sorrow without sinning, and by such sadness the heart is made better. (Eccl. 7:3.) Grace does not steel the heart, but makes it more tender. We may feel, but must not rebel.
Every child of God needs to be put into the sieve: but when sifted, if we be willing to endure the Lord’s dealings with us, we shall not be put to shame.
How few the words of Jesus when all the earth, in its representatives—Herod, Pilate, priests and elders—rose up against Him! He never uttered more or less than was needed for God’s glory. That perfect guidance of the tongue proceeded from the perfect subjection of His will to God.
The proper fruit of the Lord’s discipline is that blessed state described by the psalmist, when the fretting of the flesh is silenced, the soul composing itself to rest in the everlasting arms. “Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child” (Psalm 131:2).